Stars of Transportation: 1956 Studebaker Transtar

[@larrymiller4]

The rear window was the best of any pickup truck ever. They made great trucks. Just another casualty of competition, and other factors. Many heavy duty Studebaker trucks were shipped to the Soviet Union during WWII. They performed so well, and endured under such terrible conditions during and after the war that to this day, the Russians still say "Built like a Studebaker truck"! Few if any Russian trucks were ever "built like a Studebaker truck." ....... Gotta love the 50's style narration delivered in those authoritative tones -- sounds like Art Gilmore.

[@ex-engineer6657]

I've always wanted a stude truck.

[@jasontoms2859]

My 1959 was a great truck, but this narrator has me inspired to find another one ASAP. If only corporate was equally inspired at that time.

[@toddbonin6926]

I really like the two-tone paint design.

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

the rear color following into the doors was a atrocity-was this one of Loewy's hallucinations?

[@toddbonin6926]

@@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu different strokes man. I like it.

[@markrossow6303]

cool -- thanks for a few minutes in a Simpler + Stylish Era

[@jeffreym.keilen1095]

Never seen full wheel disc covers. Really cool with the white walls.😎

[@abelq8008]

I'm so hyped up to buy a new Studebaker!

[@Zekais]

I had a 1/2 ton (E5?) Transtar Deluxe in the same color combination as the 1 ton in this video, when I was a teen. Great old truck, especially after the anemic flathead 6 was gone and a 289 was in it's place.

[@SK-tr9ii]

My dad was a Studebaker man.

[@z978ady]

Salesmen back then smoked Pall Mall, Raleigh, Lucky Strike, or Camels without filters. Amazing number of tradesman in strenuous jobs did so too.

[@charleskesner1302]

Interesting look back, thanks.

[@OKFrax-ys2op]

The twilight zone the subject tonight is “Studebaker”.

[@MrDasher01]

Such handsome trucks!!

[@ralphnorris-vk8ff]

Always wanted a Studebaker pickup but never was able to get one! A family friend had a 1962 champ pickup with the little suitcase 6 cylinder. The little 6 was worn out, so we put a 259 v8 in it. 259 v8 with 3 in the tree and a very low geared rearend! Taking off in 2nd gear, there wasn't a 283 chevy or a 312 ford that could touch it from stop light to stop light!

[@pl5624]

The background tune was used in their 1952 100th anniversary short.

[@lanedexter6303]

Makes me want to rush right over to my Studebaker dealer.... oh... wait. Damn.

[@michaelupton4523]

Those trucks were unique, in that the pickup beds were different than any other brand. They were a stepside with a curved body, matching the cab. It had box panels and bulby fenders that were not bolt on, fhey were stamped with the bedside. It was wider stepside. This idea wasn't used again until Ford did it with the ranger and Chevy with s10.

[@lanedexter6303]

@@michaelupton4523 the smaller volume guys often had to be ingenious. I heard that some of the Studebakers were actually designed to use the same fenders front and back. In some ways the smaller makers were ahead of their time. I have a 1956 International 3/4 ton that came from the factory with a nine foot stepside bed. A friend had a 1950 GMC 1 ton with a nine foot bed, and my 1966 International 1 ton has a 4-1/2 x 8-1/2 foot stepside. Studebaker was one who marched to a different drummer. I read of a Studillac in a James Bond novel, but it was years before I learned it was real and what it was.

[@michaelupton4523]

@@lanedexter6303 the front fenders were 1 PC, where the others were bolted on with rubber welt strips.

[@lanedexter6303]

@@michaelupton4523 interesting! I suspect what I described may have been on older models, or possibly it was not Studebaker. Fascinating company, started with covered wagons. Good solid trucks, and car designs that varied SO much, from Commander to Hawk to ‘53 Starliner, to Avanti.

[@michaelupton4523]

@@lanedexter6303 the Golden hawk was supercharged from the factory.

[@asteverino8569]

Oh man! What a salesman sales pitch!

[@southbend3406]

Used trucks in this video are from South Bend, IN businesses at the time.

[@glennso47]

Navi star International either makes or used to make a heavy duty truck called the Transtar

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Yes, International indeed had their famous COE and conventional Transtar trucks. I wonder if IH (at the time) had to purchase the name rights from Studebaker. Nobody seems to know!

[@cachito8977]

Buena y concluída idea !....

[@tedium37]

"He man good looks" for sure. They were sharp. They wrecked a Stude truck in the old Incredible Hulk tv show opening credits. I always thought that was a shame.

[@jimstrict-998]

They also structured a whole Incredible Hulk episode around footage from the crazy-truck movie DUEL. Wow, that show was VERY cheaply made.

[@MsNickie1001]

Grandad owned a big 1951 Studebaker Transtar truck. It hauled wheat, hay, livestock, etc. it was a bear to drive and rode like a…..truck.

[@alexmaclean1]

I'm sold, where can I buy today? Lol I'm all honesty, it would be so cool to be able to have a mint condition one of these in the garage.

[@mkshffr4936]

My reaction precisely. Very cool trucks.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

There's a 1963 Studebaker Champ for sale in the June 2022 issue of "Hemmings Motor News." $17,900.00 negotiable. Located in PA.

[@patrickmorgan3326]

Best doggone trucks ever made.

[@StudebakerMuseum]

Glad you like them!

[@davidkimmel4216]

I was in a barn in southern Indiana there was 2 Studebaker Road Tractors in it. I tried to buy them. He said that they were used on the road by his Grandfather and Great Uncle That was over 20 years ago.

[@ЛюбовьЕвгеньевнаСукнёва]

Дизайн красивый!❤

[@MrShobar]

"A-B-C. A... Always, B... Be, C... Closing. Always be closing. ALWAYS BE CLOSING! "

[@WSNO]

I am fascinated with "seran upholstery"

[@garymckee448]

I got to get to the local Studebaker dealer and check out the new models.

[@keithbird8910]

OK I'm sold - where can I get one?

[@whatsamattayu3257]

I grew up in the days when having white wall tires and full wheel covers on your vehicle were standard on the upscale models, while black wall tires only came on the base models, unless you wanted to upgrade. White wall tires, unfortunately, were phased out when the European look for cars took hold.

[@plunkervillerr1529]

I have what is left of one on my work bench the entire dash of a 60 trans. Plus a tail gate on the wall.

[@rayfridley6649]

Did these Transstar trucks offer an automatic transmission option?

[@StudebakerMuseum]

Yes, that was an available options for all years of the Transtar

[@RubberNecked268]

Wifey's dress and nails match the truck

[@physicsphirst191]

You're right, great observation!

[@richardhall916]

Their stopping power is the length of a football field 😂, but i love it !

[@dwightneisler3844]

I always wanted a Champ shortbed

[@StudebakerMuseum]

An excellent choice.

[@opera93]

Thanks,I did like the STUDEBAKER MUSEUM, ETC.. Great history perspectives ……Anyways, in my Summer 1962 Job, at Tri- County GamePreserve, Syracuse, INDIANA: had a couple STudebaker PICK UPS ,maybe 1961 Model but,,imhave forgotten: ( Indiana , State Buys)….. Interestingly, do not remember “ ASH TRAYS”, etc., being quite as Dramatic as the Film depicts…..Actually, had no options , 3/on Tree ( Stiff &/slow shift), spartan to a fault. We figured Indiana BOUGHT “”STUDEBAKER “”, to help save the Company & etc.. even We knew , Studebakers were different (*Albeit AVANTI, etc. In 1962-3)…..!,

[@markrossow6303]

Studebaker and Nash -- two great car companies we lost around the 1957 Recession -- they did not have a High Profit Luxury Line like Caddy or Lincoln, so that $100-Thousandaires would keep the company afloat by buying New even while working stiffs like truck buyers were in a Recession

[@21stcenturyfossil7]

Nash acquired Hudson around 1953-ish to form American Motors Corporation and Hudson was phased out. AMC was, essentially, Nash. AMC hit a peak of sorts in the early 60s, largely on sales of the Rambler. Similarly, Studebaker was able to survive almost to the mid 60s because the Studebaker Lark was a popular car. The recession did kill off Packard, though.

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

Studebaker had Packard, a rival to Cadillac, Imperial and Lincoln. We lost Packard during the 1958 recession.

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

Great trucks but I hate that 2-tone paint treatment.

[@sidneycashion7817]

I love these old ads. Too bad The company wasn't as good as the narrator LOL

[@StudebakerMuseum]

He is certainly veryyyy enthusiastic about the truck!

[@glennso47]

@@StudebakerMuseum He sounds like he’s backed up against a wall with a firing squad in front of him and only has a few minutes to give his speech.

[@mdmarko]

Quite a commercial. Wonder what the people at Studebaker's ad agency were smoking when they planned this film. But I miss Studebakers.

[@edarcuri182]

A pitch to Studebaker dealers to get those trucks in inventory and move 'em out!

[@fordtruxdad5155]

Very interesting. But obtrusive ads in the middle get a "thumbs down".

[@StudebakerMuseum]

Sorry to hear that. Unfortunenlty, we can't control that.

[@glennso47]

If I saw a guy at a street corner with a pen and notebook, I’d call the cops.

[@21stcenturyfossil7]

And the FBI. Commie spies were EVERYWHERE in 1956.

[@rezamiri100]

B u tiful

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

Announcer sounds like he's having a nervous breakdown-repulsive!

[@jasmith1867]

I don't think that RootStar was a good choice for a name.

[@mrBILL-sr2cu]

I'm sure they meant "Route Star" I would have pronounced it stressing that diphthong...

[@michaelfoort2592]

Rediculous

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Ridiculous too!